The Rays coaching staff is set to see some changes this offseason, with three departures having been reported previously. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the club’s head of mental performance Justin Su’a is set to shift to a reduced role next season due to family considerations. Su’a has been with the club since 2018, and it’s unclear how the Rays plan on covering his current responsibilities as he steps back into a smaller role.
Topkin also notes that the Rays are making progress in filling the first base coach vacancy created by the departure of Chris Prieto, with interviews scheduled to begin this week. Triple-A manager Michael Johns, Double-A manager Morgan Ensberg, and coaching/player development assistant director Alejandro Freire are among the internal candidates under consideration for the job, though Topkin adds the team figures to interview external candidates as well. Both Ensberg and Freire played in the majors prior to their coaching careers; Ensberg spent eight seasons in the big leagues as an infielder for the Astros, Yankees, and Padres while Freire had a 25-game stint at first base with the Orioles in 2005.
Beyond the coaching changes, Topkin discusses the club’s upcoming offseason decisions. While the Rays have publicly indicated they could be open to an increased payroll next season, RosterResource projects the team for a payroll of $130MM next season, a $51MM increase over the club’s 2023 payroll. Even if the club were willing to substantially ramp up payroll, the club’s near 40% jump in payroll before any external additions leaves the club likely to explore cost-saving moves this offseason. The club’s most obvious route to trimming payroll would be dealing right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who is set to make $25MM next year in his final season before free agency.
That being said, a Glasnow deal would come with plenty of pitfalls, most obvious of which is the concerning state the rotation would be left in for Opening Day 2024. Zach Eflin and Aaron Civale would both figure to be locked into rotation spots entering Spring Training, but things get murkier from there. Shane Baz is expected to return from Tommy John surgery next season, while Zack Littell and Taj Bradley drew starts for the club to mixed results in 2023. Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs could both rejoin the team late in the season after rehabbing surgeries that ended their 2023 campaigns early. With just two clearly proven, healthy starters besides Glasnow entering 2023, it seems that the Rays would need to find a way to add an arm to the rotation if they did part ways with the righty this offseason.
For Topkin’s part, he suggests that the Rays would be better served making a decision on Glasnow as early in the offseason as possible. Topkin notes that any trade of Glasnow (or lack there of) would likely exert significant influence over the club’s overall offseason plan, and the sooner the club makes a decision on Glasnow, the sooner they can begin looking for a free agent starter to replace him in the rotation, or, alternatively, looking for other ways to trim the club’s payroll. Outfielders Manuel Margot and Harold Ramirez (the latter of whom MLBTR recently profiled as a potential trade candidate) both were mentioned as pieces the Rays could potentially part with this offseason, as well as catcher Christian Bethancourt.
Bethancourt, 32, was Tampa’s primary catcher in 2023, though he struggled at the plate with a .225/.254/.381 slash line in 104 games. Late in the season, Bethancourt ceded the everyday job to 26-year-old Rene Pinto, who performed solid as the club’s regular backstop for the final two months of the season. Topkin makes clear that the Rays appear poised to go in a different direction behind the plate, both noting Bethancourt as a potential candidate to depart the team this offseason and highlighting catching help as a key need for the club this offseason as they look for a player to pair with Pinto behind the plate.
One possible solution Topkin floats is a reunion with Alex Jackson, who played 14 games for the club’s Triple-A affiliate this season before going down with injury. Prior to the 2023 campaign, Jackson spent the past four seasons as a depth option for the Braves, Marlins, and Brewers, getting occasional exposure to the big leagues but only getting an extended look in 2021. He’s struggled with the bat at the big league level to this point with a career slash line of .141/.243/.227 in 185 trips to the plate, though at just 27-years-0ld with a career .851 OPS at the Triple-A level it’s at least conceivable he could unlock another level with more consistent major league opportunities. The upcoming free agent class behind the plate features the likes of Gary Sanchez and Victor Caratini as potential regular options.
You look at Tampa Bay payroll vs San Diego Padres payroll and your eyes are rolling like a roller coaster.
Then look at the wins lose record and you start thinking how can POBO / GM In SD one keeps his job let alone hire a other manager.
Glasnow is an injury-prone, glorified “opener” who won’t yield much in trade, unless you include $10M in said trade.
You’re an idiot.
You’re not the mlb fan you think you are.
The 120 innings he threw this year is his career high, and only the 2nd time he’s thrown over 100. Has a 3.03 ERA since 2019 which is bonafide ace territory. $25,000,000 is definitely a gamble, but one I’d expect most teams would take
I won’t insult you @mln fan, but I will point out jaaust how wrong you are. Yes, Glasnpw is very injury prone – that can’t be debated. But he would still garner a lot of interest from well-heeled clubs like the Cubs for ex. Hoyer and other guys love the fact that it’s only a one-year commitment. When he is on the field, he is really good.
Actually, Glasnow’s injury history can be debated. Prior to this year, his injuries were the same arm issue over and over that could only be fixed with TJS, which neither the Rays nor Glasnow wanted to do until it was absolutely necessary. So they kept shutting him down and hoping rest would fix the issue, but it didn’t and they eventually opted for surgery after several years of putzing around. I expect Glas to pitch a much heavier workload going forward now that his arm is fixed.
Just to be clear you can get TJS more than once. Rays have multiple starters who have. Which is probably part of their problem in drafting guys with TJS history.
Exaggeration for sure, but he is overrated by many. He has great stuff that has yet to produce a full great season.
You gotta love the morons who don’t actually make baseball points, just infantile insults, right Motown?..When’s the last time “Motown” won anything?
Hes probably a hockey fan as in the detroit red wings who are an original 6 team, have an amazing history and have won many championships. They have made it to the finals 6 times sense 1995 winning 4 times
> When’s the last time “Motown”
> won anything?
07/08 Stanley Cup champs
Glasnow has to dealt and sign someone cheaper to fill innings
For reference the yankees have made it 7 times winning 5 in the same span
7 times to what? not the WS. Without taking time to look it up? pretty sure Yanks been just 1 time last 20y.
I searched online, it said sense 1995 the yankees have made it to the finals 7 times, winning 5
Your right on the last 20 years tho made it twice and won once. They had a amazing streak from 1998-2001 tho making it each year and making it 6 times in 8 years from 1996-2003. Winning in 96, 98, 99, 00.
Bargain Mart Rays posturing like they always do. See you at the trade deadline, Stu.
Cardinal s could use him they have some of an Hudson or Thompson to sent
The classic “We want to trade are trash for your Ace” trade. Not gonna happen…
History alone says the Rays will trade Glasnow, only because it’s hard to picture a cost-cutting team like them paying 25 million dollars for one year of Glasnow.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is seriously kidding themselves. Not only do they save $25M, you know whatever they get in return will turn out to be solid gold.
I wouldn’t mind if the Cubs got him in the offseason. He’s healthy enough to probably give them 25 starts, and he’s a top of the line power pitcher, something the Cubs don’t have. All the Cubs starters are groundball, weak contact pitchers, which is fine not everyone needs to gas away hitters, but having at least one starter be a power pitcher would be a good boost to the team.
They will or should pay a half year of Glasnow until Springs and Rasmussen are ready.
Glasnow has skills n real upside but he’s china doll n can not B counted on 4bein healthy nor bein innings eater. Plus when he has been available in playoffs he sports 5.72 ERA n 1.49 WHIP in 45.2 innings. He’s got real Gil Meche potential w/next large contract, buyer beware.
“Topkin notes that any trade of Glasnow (or lack thereof) would likely exert significant influence over the club’s overall offseason plan, and the sooner the club makes a decision on Glasnow, the sooner they can begin looking for a free agent starter to replace him in the rotation, or, alternatively, looking for other ways to trim the club’s payroll.”
“Thereof” is one word. Also, a comma after “or” is 100% unnecessary. Someone get Deeds back into high school English.